Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-07
THE EXETER HORROR.
TEE SEARCH YcR rHs VICTIMS OF THE
FLAMES.
Fad Scenes in the Burned Theatre-rhe
Death-List rncreasirg-rhe
Origin OF the Fire.


by the burning of the Theatre Royal at
Exeter last night were mostly work
people. As soon as the flames were
extinguished a large force OF men be-
gan searching for the bodies. The
stairway leading to the gallery was
literally packed with, bodies, while at
tie head of the stairs there were scores
of others piled one on top OF the
ether. The unfortunate victims
had rushed to the door when
the alarm was given, but found the
stairway blocked and all the means
Of escape cut off. In short time the
hsmes had reached them, and they SUI
fered horrible death. There were
pitiful scenes in the vicinity OF the
burned theatre this morning as the
friends and relatives of the supposed
victims awaited the recovery OF the
bodies. In many cases fathers aud
mothers both persisted, and numerous
children are thus left without means OF
support. Several of the bodies were
burned so that only a small cinder re-
NAMED. The number of persons Sc
verely injured is sixty. 1t is feared
that the death-list will reach 40.
1t has been ascertained that there
were two hundred persons occupying
seats in the gallery, and of these over
one hundred lost their lives. The
search for the bodies still goes on. 1t
is very probable that the total number
Of deaths will never be ascertalned,
owing to the fact that many OF the
bodies were completely calcined. Two
stalls Of the stable belonging to the
hotel adjacent to the theatre are filled
with remains that it is impossible to
identify. Most of the killed were
adults and chiefly men but few chill
dren persisted. The municipal authori-
ties held special meeting to-day and
arranged for the interment OF all the
unidentified bodies.
More bodies have been taken from
The ruins. The chsrred remains of
twenty persons were discovered in one
heap. 4 mother, father, and child
were found clasped in one embrace (;
all three bad been burned to death. In
nearly every case the clothing had been
torn off the victims. From many OF
The bodies limbs were missing, and the
remains showed that they had been
wronched off. Several whole families
OF from two to five persons lost their
lives. The construction of the gallery
staircase accounts for the great loss Of
life among the gallery people.
Half way down the flight there
was n sharp angle The first persons
who left the gallery got past this safely,
but several OF those who followed were
thrown down and iammed into the
angle and were unable to extricate
themselves owing to the pressure from
behind. The staircase at this point
was Tins offectually blocked and there
was no other means Of escape. The
scene sbiftor says the fire originated
among some gauze which i'll some way
became ignited. The flames spread to
the scenery-of which the stage was
unusually full, owing to the prepare
ton for the production of panto-
mime. The audience numbered 800
persons.
The inquest over the victims was be-
gun to-day. Crowds of mourning rela-
tives were present. The coroner init
mated that it was desirable for sanitary
rca. ons that a general order for burial
he Immediately issued. 1t was impos-
nble to identify many of the bodies.
2 he jury simply viewed the remains.
4 public funeral will be held to-
morrow. il relief fund has been
opened.
Captain Shaw, chief of the London
Fire Department, who is visiting Exeter,
says that tie fire spread with such
iapidity, owing to the abundance OF
iniammablc material, that no help
from the outside would have done any
GOOD. The fire brigade spared no effort,
but i would be better if they were
placed under one control. The Queen
las sent messages of sympathy to the
sufferers.
It has been ascertained that in the
rush last night the ticket-box was upset
at the gallery exit, and this was the
cause Of the blockade at this point.
Tie remains of nearly fifty persons
were found there. Most Of the bodies
aIc completely reduced to ashes.